System and method of hair coloring and hair highlighting

ABSTRACT

Systems, devices and methods for coloring and highlighting hair are provided. The hair coloring system includes a removable hair strand support member and a fastener removably attached to the hair strand support member, wherein the removable hair strand support member is comprised of plastic.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application for Patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/784,587 entitled “System and Method of Hair Coloring and Hair Highlighting”, filed Mar. 14, 2013, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD

Various features relate to devices and methods for coloring and highlighting hair.

BACKGROUND

Many people these days highlight or lowlight their hair, as it aesthetically pleasing. Hair highlighting/lowlighting refers to changing a person's hair color using lightener or hair color to color the person's strands. Highlights can be done in natural or unnatural colors. Currently, several methods of hair highlighting/lowlighting exist. For example, one such method is the foil method. Foil is used to separate strands of hair that will be lightened/colored from strands of hair that will remain their natural color. The lightener/color is applied by using an applicator brush to hair that has been woven and separated. The foil may then be folded to protect the hair and surrounding area during the “processing time,” or the amount of time needed to achieve the desired results. Another such method is the cap method. The cap has holes, and the hair to be highlighted/lowlighted is pulled through the holes. However, these methods have drawbacks. The foil, for example, tends to slip, causing the hair color to reach hair that is not supposed to be highlighted/lowlighted and/or causing bleeding of bleach and color into each other or rest of hair. With regard to the cap method, drawbacks include (1) only being able to add one coloring agent (e.g. bleach or a single color, not multiple colors) to the stands of hair pulled through the hole; and (2) the size of the hole in which the hair is pulled through limits the thickness of the stands of hair receiving the coloring/highlighting/lowlighting preventing the ability to achieve a “chunky” hightlight.

Accordingly, in view of the above, a system and method of highlighting/lowlighting hair is needed that is easy to use and separates the hair reliably and precisely.

FIGURES

The features, nature, and advantages of the present aspects may become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify correspondingly throughout

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the hair coloring system showing the hair strand support member in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair coloring system of FIG. 1 showing the hair strand support member in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair coloring system of FIG. 1 showing the hair strand support member in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hair coloring system of FIG. 1 showing two hair strand support members in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hair coloring system of FIG. 1 showing a hair clip attached to an upper portion of the hair strand support member; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hair coloring system of FIG. 1 showing a hair clip attached to an upper portion of the hair strand support member in an open position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hair coloring system of FIG. 1 showing a hair clip attached to an upper portion of the hair strand support member in an open position.

SUMMARY

A hair coloring system is provided. In one aspect of the system, a removable hair strand support member is provided. The removable hair strand support member includes one or more sheets of flexible material, such as plastic, having a center section integrally connected to and located between a pair of outer sections. The center section and the pair of outer sections each have an interior surface and an exterior surface and at least each of the outer sections in the pair of outer sections are approximately equally sized. The center section may be larger than the outer sections in the pair of outer sections.

The removable hair strand support member further includes a sealing member to releasably secure a first section of the pair of outer sections to a second section of the pair of outer sections when folded onto one another, the sealing member secured to an outer edge of at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections. In one embodiment, the sealing member is an elongated strip extending from an upper end of the at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections to a lower end of the at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections. In one embodiment, the sealing member may be comprised of a heat retaining material which is denser than the flexible material to which the heat retaining material secured. Alternatively, the sealing member may be comprised of a magnetic object.

A fastener can be removably attached to the center section and configured to releasably secure the removable hair strand member to an upper portion of the exterior surface of the center section. Preferably, the fastener is a hair clip.

According to another aspect, a method of coloring hair is provided. The method includes separating strands of hair into a plurality of groups; placing a first group of strands of hair onto an interior surface of a center section of a first removable hair strand support member; adding coloring agent to the first group of strands of hair; and overlying a first outer section of a pair of outer sections of the first hair strand support member onto a second outer section of the pair of outer sections of the first hair strand support member.

The method may further comprise placing a second group of strands of hair onto an interior surface of a center section of a second removable hair strand support member; adding the coloring agent to the second group of strands of hair; and overlying a first outer section of a pair of outer sections of the second hair strand support member onto a second outer section of the pair of outer sections of the second hair strand support member.

The method may also comprise placing a third group of strands of hair onto an interior surface of a center section of a third removable hair strand support member; adding the coloring agent to the third group of strands of hair; and overlying a first outer section of a pair of outer sections of the third hair strand support member onto a second outer section of the pair of outer sections of the third hair strand support member.

The hair support member may be fastened to the roots of the first group of strands of hair using a fastener removably secured to the center section of the first hair support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

DEFINITIONS

“Coloring,” or any grammatical version thereof, may refer to highlighting, lowlighting, and/or coloring. As such, “coloring” may refer to changing the tint, compared to the surrounding hair, of a plurality of hair strands. The color may be lighter or darker than, the same as, or similar to, the surrounding hair.

“Coloring agent,” or any grammatical version thereof, may refer to one or more of the following: hair bleaching and/or lightening kit or product; hair dying kit or product; and/or a combination thereof “Coloring agent” may refer to any chemical, natural or man-made, that is capable of coloring hair. For example, when highlighting hair, the “coloring agent” may refer to the hydrogen peroxide and the hair pigment. The coloring agents are known in the art.

“Scalp/root” refers the scalp of a person itself. It may also refer to the hair closest to the scalp, i.e., the roots.

“Treated hair” or “hair to be treated” refers to the plurality of strands of hair that are colored (i.e., highlighted and/or dyed) or to be colored (i.e., highlighted and/or dyed).

Overview

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a hair coloring system comprising a hair strand support member and a fastener, such as a hair clip, removably attached to a top portion of the hair strand support member. Preferably, the hair clip attaches to the scalp/roots on a person's head. Selected hair to be colored is placed on an interior surface of the hair strand support member. The selected hair is then colored, and the hair strand support member is preferably closed during the processing period.

Hair Strand Support Member

In one embodiment, and as shown in FIGS. 1-7, the hair coloring system 10 includes a hair strand support member 100 (identified individually and collectively as “100”) having an interior surface 100 a and an exterior surface 100 b. As shown in FIGS. 1-7, the hair strand support member 100 may be partially, substantially or completely made of one or more sheets of material that can be folded in a generally trifold configuration; however, other suitable configurations are within the scope of the invention. In the trifold configuration, the hair strand support member 100 may include a left section 102, a center section 104 and a right section 106. Sections 102, 104 and 106 may be generally rectangular in shape. However, in alternative embodiments, the sections may be other shapes, such as squares, ovals or other polygons. Each of the sections 102, 104 and 106 may have the same length and the same or different widths. For example, the width of left section 102 and the right section 106 may be the same size while the center section 104 may have a width larger than the widths of the left section 102 and the right section 106. Preferably, the left section 102 and the right section 106 may be removably attached to each other. When attached, the left section 102 and the right section 106 may overlap each other. In other embodiments, the left section 102 and the right section 106 may not overlap other. For example, they may simply touch each other.

In one embodiment, the hair strand support member 100 is comprised of one or more sheets of plastic. Preferably, the hair strand support member 100 is comprised of a plastic that is capable of retaining heat and/or that will not melt or lose shape when heat from a blow dryer, or any other device used in the hair salon industry to dry/apply heat to the head, is applied to it. As such, preferably, the plastic is chosen such that it is capable of withstanding heat and/or containing heat. It should also be malleable. Additionally, preferably, the plastic is chosen such that the hair bleach, dye, or any other chemical agent, will not burn holes through it. Examples of such plastics include, but are not limited to, thermoplastic polymers; semi-crystalline plastics; low-density polyethylene (LDPE); polypropylene; polystyrene; polyvinyl chloride; polyamides (nylons); polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE); polyesters; polyurethanes; and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC or “vinyl), silicone, acrylic, nylon, latex, and the like. The chosen plastic may be available from, for example, Dupont®. A mixture and/or combination of different plastics may be used to manufacture the hair strand support member 100. In some embodiments, the chosen plastic may include additional heat-retaining materials such as strips, layers, and/or beads disposed thereon. Preferably, hair strand support member 100 does not include foil and/or aluminum foil. Preferably, the use of plastic, as opposed to foil, allows for a shorter processing time, i.e., time to achieve the desired result. For example, if a blow dryer or other drying/heating mechanism is used to provide heat during processing, use of a hair strand support member 100 comprised of plastic allows for better heat retention, and therefore less processing time, compared to current foil methods. In other embodiments, the hair strand support member 100 may be comprised essentially of plastic.

Preferably, the hair strand support member 100 separates, isolates and/or sections the strands of hair to be treated. Each group of hair strands to be colored is preferably separated or isolated by a separate hair strand support member 100 of the present invention. As such, a person's head may have a number of hair strand support members 100 attached to his or her head during a single coloring treatment.

Preferably, the hair strand support member 100 is provided in a variety of different sizes. The size may depend on, for example, the length of hair to be colored and/or the thickness of hair to be colored. It is to be understood that a number of different sizes of the hair strand support members 100 may be used on a single person's head. The hair strand support member 100 may be manufactured in different sizes, and/or the user may simply be able to cut the hair strand support member 100 to the desired size.

The hair strand support member 100 may be washed while attached to the hair or scalp of an individual to remove any coloring agent or other matter. Alternatively, the hair strand support member 100 may be thoroughly washed after being removed from the hair or scalp of an individual to remove any coloring agent or other matter. The hair strand support member 100 may then be reused on the same or different individual.

Fastener

In one embodiment, a fastener is provided. Preferably, and as shown in FIGS. 1-7, the fastener is a hair clip 105 (identified individually and collectively as “105”). Examples of hair clips 105 include, but are not limited to, snap clips, French clips, jaw clips, condor clips, alligator clips, or the like. Snap clips may be metal or plastic hair clips usually in a pointed oblong shape that lay flat against the scalp when shut. To open, the clip may be bent backwards until it snaps open. When it is in place, it is bent down shut. Preferably, the hair clip 105 is a snap clip. The hair clip 105 of the present invention may be comprised of any material (i.e., metal and/or plastic) and may be provided in a variety of sizes. In other embodiments, the fastener and/or hair clip 105 is omitted and/or replaced by another suitable mechanism for attaching the hair strand support member 100 to the scalp/roots.

In one embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 1, the hair clip 105 may be attached to an upper portion of the exterior (or back) surface of the center section 104 of the hair strand support member 100. The hair clip 105 may be in a number of different ways. For example, the center section 104 of the hair strand support member 100 may include one or more holes (reinforced with reinforcement circles) for receiving at least a portion of the hair clip 105. Alternatively, for example, the hair clip 105 may simply attach the hair strand support member 100 to the head of a person by pulling some hair close to the scalp, as well as a portion of the hair strand support member 100 within the grip of the hair clip 105 or teeth of the hair clip 105. In other embodiments, in lieu of, or in connection with, the hair clip 105, any other fastener may be used. For example, a string or rubber band may removably attach the hair strand support member 100 to head of a person. The hair strand support member 100 may be manufactured with a fastener, or it may not be. In yet other embodiments, the hair clip 105 may be removably attached to the upper portion of the exterior (or back) surface of the center section 104 of the hair strand support member 100. In yet other embodiments, the hair clip 105 is not removably attached to the hair strand support member 100, i.e., it may be manufactured to permanently attach to the hair strand support member 100. In yet other embodiments, more than one fastener, i.e., more than one hair clip 105 may be removably attached to the hair support member 100. In this regard, for example, more than one hair clip 105 may be used to attach a single hair strand support member 100 to a person's head.

Sealing Member

In one embodiment, the hair strand support member 100 includes a sealing member 108. Preferably, the sealing member 108 may be removably attached to the outer edge of the left section 102, the right section 106, or the outer edges of both the left section 102 and the right section 106 of the hair strand support member 100. As used herein, “sealing member” may be one or more components that attach the left section 102 and the right section 106 of the hair strand support member 100 together. For example, and as shown in the figures, the sealing member 108 may be one or more elongated strips that are disposed on the outer edge of left section 102, the outer edge of the right section 106, and/or the outer edges of both the left section 102 and the right section 106. The sealing member may extend from an upper end of the left and/or right sections 102, 106 to the lower end of the left and/or right sections 102, 106.

In this regard, the sealing member 108 may be a strip of material that is thicker and/or denser than the material that the hair strand support member 100 is comprised of, i.e., a thicker type of plastic. Various densities of plastic may be used. Additionally, the sealing member 108 may be one or more strips of material, such as plastic, that are disposed at or near the left section 102 or the right section 106 that increase heat retention of the hair strand support member 100. Heat-retaining materials are well-known. Any heat-retaining materials may be used, i.e., beads, polymers, and the like. Preferably, the thicker material of the sealing member 108 will allow the left and right sections 102 and 106 to overlay and/or fold better due to the heaviness of the strip. In other embodiments, the sealing member 108 may be comprised of one or more magnets or magnetic objects. In this regard, the sealing member 108 may be one or more components that produce a magnetic field. One magnet or magnetic object may be attached to the left section 102, and another magnet or magnetic object may be attached to the right section 106. In other embodiments, the sealing member 108 may be an adhesive capable of sticking to plastic and/or capable of sticking to another material. In this regard, the adhesive may be disposed on the left section 102 or the right section 106. It may be attached to the other end, or it may be attached to a material disposed on the other end. In yet other embodiments, the sealing member 108 may be tape/sticker(s), zip-lock mechanism, or the like. Any component(s) capable of holding two pieces of plastic or other material together may be used. In yet other embodiments, the sealing member 108 is omitted.

In one embodiment, a kit is provided. The kit may include the hair support member 100 and instructions for use. In some embodiments, the kit may further include a hair clip 106 and/or sealing member 108. The hair clip 105 may be attached to the hair strand support member 100, or may be provided separate from the hair strand support member 100, as described above. The kit may include a plurality of hair strand support members 100.

Methodology

Preferably, the present invention may be used to highlight/lowlight/color strands of hair. Prior to treatment, hair that is not intended to be colored is separated from hair that is intended to be colored by using hair clips, or other methods known in the art, to hold the hair that is not intended to be colored apart from the hair that is intended to be colored. Preferably, strands of hair intended to be colored are each covered by the hair strand support member 100 of the present invention in the following manner. With one hand, each group of strands intended to be colored is lifted away from the scalp. With the other hand, the hair clip 105, which is removably attached to the hair strand support member 100, is attached to the head right near the scalp/root under the group of strands of hair to be highlighted. This allows the hair strand support member 100 to lie directly under the hair to be colored. Since the hair strand support member 100 is attached to the root/scalp, it does not need to be held in place with a hand. Once the hair clip is attached to the scalp/root, the hair strand support member 100 is preferably placed in an open position, as shown, for example, in FIG. 7. The hair to be colored is placed on the interior surface of the hair strand support member 100. For each group of strands of hair to be colored, the above process is repeated.

Once all the hair strand support members 100 are attached to the scalp/roots via hair clips 105, the coloring agent is brushed onto the hair, as is known in the art (alternatively, the coloring agent may be added after each hair strand support member is attached to the head). For example, the following two processing steps may both occur while the hair strand support members 100 are attached to the head (they do not need to be removed): (1) Bleach may be added and washed off after a period of time; (2) Dye may be applied and washed off after a period of time. In current methods, such as foil methods, after the bleach is applied, but prior to adding the dye, all of the foil must be removed. As such, the hair is washed with the foil off, and the foil has to be reapplied to the head again to add the dye. This inventive hair coloring system of the present invention eliminates this extra step.

The hair strand support member 100 may be left in an open position during the processing time, or the hair strand support member 100 may be sealed/closed for example, by use of the sealing member 108, or the like, in order for the coloring agent to process. After processing, the hair strand support member 100 is preferably opened and removed from the hair.

The present invention is easier to use than current methods, such as foil and cap methods. Generally, the foil is not attached to the scalp/root area prior to adding coloring agent to the hair; it is usually held taut in place with one hand, while the other hand applies the coloring agent to the hair. Then the foil is just folded shut. This is difficult for people to do, and often times, the foil slips out from under the strands of hair to be treated, and/or the coloring agent bleeds to the hair that is intended to not be highlighted. What follows are imprecise, messy highlights. Since the present invention is preferably attached to the hair with, for example, a hair clip, it is more difficult for the hair support member to slip out. Use of plastic, as opposed to foil, reduces processing time. Additionally, hair coloring system of the present invention is washable and reusable. Plastic preferably keeps the heat inside and creates a better seal than simply folding the foil shut.

One or more of the components and functions illustrated in the figures may be rearranged and/or combined into a single component or embodied in several components without departing from the invention. Additional elements or components may also be added without departing from the invention.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention is not to be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art. 

What is claimed:
 1. A removable hair strand support member, comprising: one or more sheets of flexible material having a center section integrally connected to and located between a pair of outer sections, the center section and the pair of outer sections each have an interior surface and an exterior surface and wherein at least each of the outer sections in the pair of outer sections are approximately equally sized; and a sealing member to releasably secure a first section of the pair of outer sections to a second section of the pair of outer sections when folded onto one another, the sealing member secured to an outer edge of at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections.
 2. The removable hair strand member of claim 1, further comprising: a fastener removably attached to the center section and configured to releasably secure the removable hair strand member to an upper portion of the exterior surface of the center section.
 3. The removable hair strand member of claim 2, wherein the fastener is a hair clip.
 4. The removable hair strand member of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is an elongated strip extending from an upper end of the at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections to a lower end of the at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections.
 5. The removable hair strand member of claim 1, wherein the sealing member is comprised of a heat retaining material.
 6. The removable hair strand member of claim 5, wherein the heat retaining material is denser than the flexible material to which the heat retaining material secured.
 7. The removable hair strand member of claim 8, wherein the sealing member is comprised of a magnetic object.
 8. The removable hair strand member of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is plastic.
 9. The removable hair strand member of claim 1, wherein the center section is larger than the outer sections in the pair of outer sections.
 10. A method of coloring hair, comprising: separating strands of hair into a plurality of groups; placing a first group of strands of hair onto an interior surface of a center section of a first removable hair strand support member; adding coloring agent to the first group of strands of hair; and overlying a first outer section of a pair of outer sections of the first hair strand support member onto a second outer section of the pair of outer sections of the first hair strand support member.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: placing a second group of strands of hair onto an interior surface of a center section of a second removable hair strand support member; adding the coloring agent to the second group of strands of hair; and overlying a first outer section of a pair of outer sections of the second hair strand support member onto a second outer section of the pair of outer sections of the second hair strand support member.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: placing a third group of strands of hair onto an interior surface of a center section of a third removable hair strand support member; adding the coloring agent to the third group of strands of hair; and overlying a first outer section of a pair of outer sections of the third hair strand support member onto a second outer section of the pair of outer sections of the third hair strand support member.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising fastening the first hair support member to roots of the first group of strands of hair.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first hair support member is fastened using a fastener removably secured to the center section of the first hair support member.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the center section of the first hair support member is larger than the first and second sections of the pair of outer sections of the first hair support member.
 16. A removable hair strand support member, comprising: one or more sheets of flexible material having a center section integrally connected to and located between a pair of outer sections, the center section and the pair of outer sections each have an interior surface and an exterior surface and wherein at least each of the outer sections in the pair of outer sections are approximately equally sized; a sealing member to releasably secure a first section of the pair of outer sections to a second section of the pair of outer sections when folded onto one another, the sealing member secured to an outer edge of at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections; and a fastener removably attached to the center section and configured to releasably secure the removable hair strand member to a plurality of strands of hair.
 17. The removable hair strand member of claim 16, wherein the sealing member is an elongated strip extending from an upper end of the at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections to a lower end of the at least one outer section in the pair of outer sections.
 18. The removable hair strand member of claim 16, wherein the sealing member is comprised of a heat retaining material.
 19. The removable hair strand member of claim 18, wherein the heat retaining material is denser than the flexible material to which the heat retaining material secured.
 20. The removable hair strand member of claim 16, wherein the center section is larger than the outer sections in the pair of outer sections. 